₦airaland Forum

Peace Corps alleges smear campaign the Peace Corps of Nigeria has alleged plans by some Nigerians and groups opposed to the Bill for an Act to establish the Nigerian Peace Corps before the National Assembly to discredit the organisation. The Corps Commandant-General, Mr. Dickson Akoh, told The AUTHORITY that a few persons who fear that the creation of the organisation will hurt their selfish interests have become panicky since the Bill seeking its establishment reached the Final Reading in both chambers of the National Assembly. He disclosed that some groups had sponsored Bills in the National Assembly seeking the establishment of their own variants of the Nigerian Peace Corps, but that such Bills had “been killed on arrival.” Akoh stated that groups, whose Bills were rejected by the federal lawmakers, were envious of the acceptance which greeted the Bill seeking the creation of Nigerian Peace Corps in the National Assembly, and “have been making frantic efforts to scuttle it.”He described the opposition to the establishment of the Nigerian Peace Corps as “misguided”, explaining that the Peace Corps of America is very respected in that country, and that the proposed Nigerian Peace Corps will be fashioned after the American model to earn the respect and cooperation of Nigerians. The several national and international recognition accorded the Corps, said Akoh, “Has also been a source of worry to those who do not mean well for the development of the youths of this great nation.”According to the Commandant-General, the 18-year-old history of the Corps had been marred by harassment by the Po­lice and Department of State Se­curity (DSS), but that the Corps had always prevailed in court.He said: “We have had a se­ries of raids by the Police and DSS personnel on the false alle­gation that we are an illegal en­tity. On each occasion we have, like the Peace Corps we are, re­mained peaceful and sought redress within the ambit of the law. It might interest you to note that the Police and DSS are ow­ing us several millions of Nai­ra in court-awarded damages.“We know where the at­tacks are coming from, but we remain undaunted. First, they lied to the Police, the Econom­ic and Financial Crimes Com­mission (EFCC), and then the Independent Corrupt Practic­es and other related offences Commission (ICPC). All these agencies investigated the spuri­ous claims and cleared us. We have letters to such effect,” he stressed.Akoh dismissed fears that the Nigerian Peace Corps will just be “another paramilitary organisation,” saying that the Corps will, among other things, partner with schools to pro­mote nationalism, curb cultism, violence, strengthen friendship amongst Nigerian youths, and help engage thousands of un­employed Nigerian graduates who otherwise might be lured into crime.

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